It's Not Just Work: The Hidden Causes of Burnout You Might Be Overlooking
- Steph Edmunds
- 16 hours ago
- 4 min read
And what you can do to finally start feeling like yourself again
Wait… it’s not just your job?
You might think burnout is only caused by work, think… deadlines, difficult colleagues, the never-ending pressure to perform. But what if the real source of your exhaustion is closer to home?
If you’re a high-achiever in your professional life, chances are, you’re also the one holding everything together in your personal life too - from organising social events, managing kids’ sports schedules, to carrying the mental load at home. It’s a lot. For some it’s actually too much.
So, let’s talk honestly about burnout and what it really looks like, why it’s not just work-related, and what you can do to start recovering (without adding another thing to your to-do list - because I know you don’t want that!).
What is burnout (and how is it different from stress)?
Burnout isn’t just feeling a bit tired or overwhelmed.
It’s not even the buzz you get before a big presentation - the nerves, the tunnel vision, the burst of energy to meet the deadline. That’s stress, and it can actually be positive and productive in short bursts (hellooooo ‘eustress’).
But when every day feels like that? When the tension never lets up? When the stress isn’t eustress and it’s distress (the kind of stress that hinders your performance) and it’s chronic… That’s when stress can begin to lead to burnout.
What burnout really feels like…
Burnout is when you snooze your alarm three times because getting out of bed feels impossible. You're physically there at work, but mentally… you’re not. You run on coffee and autopilot, crank out another report you’re sure no-one reads anyway, and by the time you get home you’re so bone achingly depleted you’re cancelling plans and can't even call the doctor about those gut issues that are getting worse and worse.
Does that sound familiar?
Burnout is a deep exhaustion that sleep doesn’t fix, that a holiday doesn’t touch. It’s emotional numbness, cynicism and feeling like everything’s pointless, and yet you’re still needing to show up for everyone else. Somehow.
And please know that the example above isn't as ugly as burnout can get... that's why it's so critical to be self-aware and prevent full blown burnout before it damages your wellbeing so badly that a health crisis pulls the breaks on for you.
Work isn't always the villain. Your personal life plays a role too.
Here’s the thing - you could work in a high-pressure job and still avoid burnout if the rest of your life was designed to replenish you.
But most of us? We’re on duty 24/7. Because even outside of work, we give. We give to our families, our communities, our partners, our businesses, our friends. And when everything feels urgent, your nervous system never gets a break.
Let’s take a look at some of the factors that could be quietly and unknowingly draining you in your personal life.
Hidden causes of burnout in your personal life
Personality traits that might be working against you:
Perfectionism
A strong need for control
People-pleasing tendencies
Leaky or non-existent boundaries
Difficulty letting go of responsibility
Life situations that drain your energy (even if you don’t realise it):
Parenting (especially if your child has additional needs)
Living with neurodivergence or mental health challenges
Relationships that are toxic or high-conflict
Experiencing trauma or significant life challenges or changes... and/or supporting loved ones through their own challenges
The pressure of loan repayments or needing to make major life decisions
Being a giver in the community, volunteering, running committees, coaching that sports team, taking that seat on the board
Caring for ageing parents
Burnout doesn’t just happen because of work, it can happen because of who we are, how we’re wired and the inner drive that means we never stop working, even when we have full control of our personal time. It's important to be aware of the hidden causes of burnout that impact you.
So what can you actually do about it?
Let’s keep this simple (because I know you don’t need another complex system to follow):
3 Things You Can do to
Kickstart Your Burnout Recovery
1. Name what’s draining you
Grab a notebook and write it down. What’s using up your mental, emotional, and physical energy? Seeing it in black and white can shift your perspective and help you make clearer decisions to turn off some of the taps draining you.
2. Focus on your foundation
No, you don’t need a 5am yoga routine. You need the basics:
Quality sleep
Nourishing meals
Hydration
Gentle movement
Moments of joy (even tiny ones like literally stopping to smell the roses)
These small shifts aren’t fluff. They’re survival.
3. Build a support team
Burnout isn’t a DIY project. You might need:
A coach (like me!) for mindset and lifestyle shifts
A therapist for emotional healing
A GP for physical symptoms and ailments
You deserve a team to provide personalised support - not just more information from articles and Google searches that fuel self-blame and overwhelm.
You are NOT lazy. You're depleted.
Burnout doesn't mean you're broken. It means you're doing too much for too many, without enough coming back to you.
And the first step out? Is awareness. Then small, sustainable change. You don’t have to overhaul your whole life at once. You can improve your situation by just starting somewhere and starting small.
If you’re ready for support in your burnout recovery journey or want to prevent hitting that wall in the first place, let’s talk. Whether it's personal coaching or team workshops, I’d love to help you reset, recharge, and reclaim your energy.
Book your free consultation here (your future self will thank you!).
Creating a life you love is in your hands!
Did you enjoy this blog? Sign up to my monthly motivation email for regular insights, tools and personal and professional development to support you to thrive in work and life!
Steph Edmunds
Certified Professional Life Coach & Team Facilitator
ADHD Informed Professional
About the Author:
Steph Edmunds is a Tasmanian based Certified Professional Life Coach, Facilitator and Speaker who specialises in empowering individuals and teams to thrive in work and life. Steph is an ADHD informed professional who is passionate about everyone being able to achieve their version of fulfilment and success. Learn more: Success Coaching Tasmania.
